Seniors

By 2030, 8.6 million Californians will be 65 or older – it’s a silver tsunami! With so many senior citizens in our community, it’s important to make sure they are safe, secure and well cared for. Nonprofits all over the Bay Area are making this a priority, with countless opportunities for volunteers to get involved. From providing health care and housing to connecting generations and caring for the aging, there are myriad ways to help make someone’s golden years golden.

GET STARTED

• Help an elderly neighbor – bring them a homemade meal, give them a hand with yard work or drive them to the store. Something small could make their day. 

• Become a newspaper roller and join a group of environmentally minded seniors who help collect, sort, flatten and roll donated newspapers to be sold to florists. All proceeds benefit Yu-Ai Kai, a Japanese-American community senior service that offers an array of activities and programs.

• Donate or volunteer at a food bank that helps provide meals to the elderly. Loaves and Fishes and Second Harvest bring healthy, nutritious food to those in need, and have weekly volunteer opportunities.
  
  

DIG DEEPER

• If you want to help seniors with basic needs, such as transportation, in-home repairs and services, assistance with shopping, advocacy and companionship, volunteer with Heart of the Valley.

• The Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council needs volunteers to drive for its RYDE program, which transports seniors to appointments, grocery shopping, social visits and more within the West Valley.
  
  

ALL IN

• Consider becoming a Meals on Wheels driver to deliver hot meals and provide companionship to homebound adults during the week.

• Apply to join the Senior Citizens Commission with the City of San Jose to study, review, evaluate and make recommendations to the city council about the seniors in your community. Meetings are on the second Thursday of every month and terms are three years long.

• Volunteer with a hospice program like Hospice of the Valley to care for patients. There are many different ways to get involved, including direct patient care, clerical support, community outreach, and by applying skills like art, massage, hairdressing and language assistance.
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NONPROFITS

AARP

(888) 687-2277

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers retired people to choose how they live as they age. 

AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of AARP, provides free programs and services that help older adults living with low income secure good jobs, get the benefits and refunds they’ve earned, and stay connected to their communities.

Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada

(408) 372-9900

The Alzheimer’s Association works to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; provides support for all affected; and aims to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. 

AACI

(408) 975-2730

AACI serves the Asian American community by providing an array of services, including some specifically for seniors, to improve the health and well-being of individuals. 

Avenidas

(650) 289-5400

Avenidas helps older adults to be as active, engaged and healthy as possible throughout their lives by providing relevant services and programs.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

(408) 468-0100

Catholic Charities serves and advocates for families and individuals in need, especially those living in poverty. Rooted in Gospel values, it works to create a more just and compassionate community in which people of all cultures and beliefs can participate. 

Coda Alliance

(408) 282-8922

Coda empowers easier, early end-of-life conversation enabling you to take responsibility; choose your own way and embrace life.

Elder Wisdom Circle

The Elder Wisdom Circle is an online inter-generational program pairing advice seekers with a network of older adults (“Elders”) who provide empathetic, caring, and supportive advice based on their own life experiences.

Heart of Hope Asian American Hospice Care

(408) 986-8584

Heart of Hope provides physical, emotional, social and spiritual support to terminally ill Asian American patients and their family members throughout much of the Bay Area.

Heart of the Valley, Services for Seniors

(408) 241-1571

Heart of the Valley is committed to facilitating, advocating for and supporting independent living for seniors residing in West Santa Clara County.

Health Trust

(408) 513-8700  

The Health Trust works to advance wellness for all, especially the most vulnerable, in Silicon Valley. Focus areas include food and nutrition, chronic disease and housing.

Hope Services

(408) 284-2850

Hope Services works to improve quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities, including seniors, by providing a variety of services to stay active and to experience an array of retirement alternatives, on site or in their communities.

Hospice of the Valley (Affiliate of Sutter Health)

(408) 559-5600

Hospice of the Valley delivers high-quality care that is right for each patient by providing hospice, home medical care, home medical equipment, grief support, and wellness programs. 

Live Oak Adult Day Services

(408) 971-9363

Live Oak Adult Day Services works to provide a quality structured day program designed to enhance the lives of seniors and to provide respite for their caregivers.

Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen

(408) 922-9085

Loaves & Fishes provides free, nutritious meals and support services in a dignified, safe and caring environment to all needy individuals, with special concern for families, seniors and the homeless. 

Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley

(408) 578-9519

Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley provides critical home repairs to more than 600 clients per year. In addition, they assist nonprofit organizations with facility maintenance and repairs so that they can dedicate their time and resources to helping our community.

Salvation Army Silicon Valley

(408) 998-2064 

The Salvation Army Senior Center is a safe place for seniors to socialize and enjoy a nutritious hot meal. The center provides relief from the heat, rain and cold.

Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council

Saratoga: (408) 868-1257

Los Gatos: (408) 703-6621

SASCC provides access to physical and social activities along with resource services that improve the overall quality of life for aging adults in our community. 

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley

(408) 266-8866

Second Harvest distributes healthy food to those in need through a network of partners.

SeniorNet

SeniorNet provides older adults with computer-related education to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.

Senior Adults Legal Assistance

(408) 295-5991

SALA is a nonprofit elder law office that supports older persons in their efforts to live safely, independently, non-institutionalized and with dignity.

Sourcewise Community Resource Solutions

(408) 350-3200

Sourcewise aims to inform, educate and prepare all adults, including seniors, within Santa Clara County to better navigate their health and life options.

Young at Heart Project

(408) 446-0402  

Young at Heart Project improves the well-being of seniors and the disabled confined to convalescent homes and other residential care facilities by bringing them live, high-quality, professional musical entertainment.

Yu-Ai Kai

(408) 294-2505

Yu-Ai Kai, a Japanese American community senior service in San Jose’s Japantown, serves seniors with an array of activities and programs including day services, daily lunch, social services, transportation and cultural activities.